Iraq will ask neighboring countries to help improve its security at a rare regional summit in Baghdad on Saturday that will be attended by the United States. The Iraqi government will lobby Iran, Syria and other countries to tighten their borders, stop funding sectarian militias and crack down on religious leaders in their countries who encourage violence in Iraq, said Sami Alaskary, a Shiite lawmaker close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The government will oppose any calls by Sunni-dominated countries to abolish Iraq's constitution and start the process over, Alaskary said. Some Arab countries think such a move is necessary for Sunni insurgents to put down their arms and join the government, he said. "There will be no going back to square one," Alaskary said. "They have to accept that we have a constitution, that this is the army that Iraq has built. There will be no going back."... http://www.usatoday.com

The city has settled a $20 million lawsuit filed by the family of a veteran New York Times reporter whose beating death raised questions about the city's emergency medical services, the mayor said Thursday.David Rosenbaum, 63, was beaten with a heavy plastic pipe during a mugging near his home in January 2006. The family alleged that the people responsible for helping Rosenbaum — from emergency medical workers to hospital staff — failed him."What happened to this family when they lost their loved one that night should never have happened," said Mayor Adrian Fenty at a news conference with Rosenbaum's family. In the settlement, the city will not pay any money to the family. Instead, the family has agreed to withdraw the lawsuit and give the District of Columbia one year to improve emergency medical services. If it does not improve, the family can refile the lawsuit....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17525758/

Polar bears, sea ice and global warming are taboo subjects, at least in public, for some U.S. scientists attending meetings abroad, environmental groups and a top federal wildlife official said on Thursday.Environmental activists called this scientific censorship, which they said was in line with the Bush administration's history of muzzling dissent over global climate change.But H. Dale Hall, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said this policy was a long-standing one, meant to honor international protocols for meetings where the topics of discussion are negotiated in advance. The matter came to light in e-mails from the Fish and Wildlife Service that were distributed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, both environmental groups....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17524722/

The Army has created a new post to help address problems at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army's vice chief of staff announced Thursday.Gen. Richard Cody said Brig. Gen. Michael Tucker will become the deputy commanding general of the hospital, acting as Walter Reed's "bureaucratic buster." "Basically, there should be an 'easy-button' for our soldiers and families to go to where someone welcomes them and says 'what is your problem, what are your issues,' " and help them quickly, Cody said. Tucker, currently stationed at Fort Knox, will work with soldiers recovering from war wounds to help them cut through government red tape."He understands soldiers, he understands leading and combat, he understands how to run large organizations," Cody said of Tucker at a round-table meeting....http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/08/walter.reed/index.html?eref=rss_us

A federal judge Thursday ordered former de facto president Reynaldo Bignone arrested in connection with human rights abuses stemming from Argentina’s 1976-83 dictatorship, local media reported.Federal Judge Alberto Suarez Araujo did not issue a statement on the reports and it was not clear if Bignone, a former army commander, was immediately detained.The Todo Noticias network and two local news agencies cited unidentified court officials as saying Bignone, 78, was to be held at a military base outside Buenos Aires ahead of a court appearance. The Diarios y Noticias news agency, also citing an unidentified court official, said the judge ordered Bignone’s arrest amid an investigation into killings and abuses when the army was suspected of operating clandestine detention centers in Buenos Aires....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17528317/

Bush has arrived in Brazil, but not everyone is happy to see him. The president's trip was intended to promote democracy, increased trade and cooperation on alternative fuels. Mr. Bush and his advisers also hope his visit will offset the growing influence of leftist leaders, such as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. As the president flew Thursday on Air Force One, Mr. Bush's national security adviser brushed aside Chavez's provocations. "The president is going to do what he's been doing for a long time: talk about a positive agenda," said Stephen Hadley. Police clashed with students, environmentalists and left-leaning Brazilians, some waving communist flags, ahead of Mr. Bush's visit. Riot police fired tear gas after more than 6,000 people held a largely peaceful march through the financial district. And in the southern city of Porto Alegre, more than 500 people yelled "Get Out, Imperialist!" as they burned an effigy of Mr. Bush outside a Citigroup Inc. bank branch. ...http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/08/world/main2546575.shtml?source=RSSattr=World_2546575